Live Slots – An overview of what’s available in 2024

Introduction to Live Slots

Live slots, also known as live slot games or, less commonly, live dealer slots, are online slots in which a human presenter stands beside the reels and talks you through the game.

In live slots, unlike regular slots, which everyone knows and loves, where you play your own game, spin the reels yourself, and get your unique outcome, every player gets the same result, sometimes referred to as community spins.

Information about live slots is very difficult to find, so I have compiled this page covering all the currently available live slots games. This article is your best starting point regarding live slots.

So far, there have been no big hits among players in this niche. However, a breakthrough is waiting to happen as the list of live slots, currently standing at six games, continuously grows. The first live slot was released in 2019, but there were four releases in 2023, so the trend seems to be picking up.

On this page, you’ll learn about live slots, which ones exist, and where to play them. Refer to the list of casinos on this page. You’ll find all the top live slots there.

In addition to stand-alone live slot games, consider LiveSpins, a way to bet live with your favourite streamer as he plays the game. More on this is at the bottom of the page.

What are Live Slots?

The term “Live Slot” has been given to a slot game broadcast with a person presenting and playing the game in real-time, which others can watch or play with.

While several “Live Slots” are available, none have become massive hits, but a section of players like these games. Player numbers can be seen in the live casino lobbies where the games are located. Player numbers tend to struggle to more than one hundred, although a couple of the games, Big Bad Wolf and Extra Epic Chilli Spins, regularly get a few hundred people playing.

You might think that Evolution would be the only developer that has attempted to merge the two niches: slots and live dealer games. However, Playtech is the first one to do this, and On-Air Entertainment probably has the best game in the genre at the moment.

According to just about everyone who has tried playing live slots, the most obvious disadvantage of these games is the loss of the illusion of control over the outcome. When you play slots, you feel that you are the one who is lucky or unlucky, as each game round and game is unique to you.

With live slots, you know that the game round is the same for everyone. Your choices start and end with your bet size and the number of spins you want to play for, just like playing one of the gameshows, such as Crazy Time.

Defining traits of a live slot game

• Human presenter.
• Slot game with reels, wheels or blocks.
• The game-round outcome is the same for all players.

Disadvantages

• The game is too slow for slot players.
• You can’t play in demo mode.
• The player has no illusion of control over the outcome.
• No games with any anticipation value (yet).
• These games are classified as live games, so slot bonuses can’t be used.

Advantages

• None known (yet)

List of Live Slots

Buffalo Blitz Live (Playtech)

Playtech started the trend of live slots on 19th of December 2019, when they released Buffalo Blitz Live and allowed players to participate in community spins hosted by a human presenter.

This game reveals all the problems this niche has with the naming convention. Playtech already had a hugely popular classic slot named Buffalo Blitz, and when they made a live presenter version of it, they called it Buffalo Blitz Live. If you Googled that term, you’d likely find many streamers playing the original game.

This game, which you can’t play in demo mode as it’s a live game and costs at least 40p per spin to play, is just a community slots experience.

Unlike the original game, which you can play alone, this one features a live presenter and a bunch of people in live chat. If you go back to the solo game, it might feel a little bit lonely.

Overall, this is a decent game.

Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt Live (Evolution)

Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt Live was released on June 9, 2021, decommissioned in February 2024, and replaced by the next game on this list, Gonzo’s Treasure Map Live.

One mistake was replaced by another, but let’s briefly review what Treasure Hunt Live was.

While it no longer exists, this game is notable for being the first Evolution game to use virtual reality (VR) technology and that allowed the players to enjoy a 360-degree immersion into the game with a VR headset.

The game, while hosted by a human presenter, is RNG all the way. It was a live presented RNG game with no player choices, where all players would bet on the same game round with the same outcome.

Evolution attempted to enter this niche with a bang after Playtech opened the door, and it failed, as the game never gained traction with the players.

Gonzo’s Treasure Map Live (Evolution)

When it was apparent that the Treasure Hunt concept had failed, Evolution revamped it and made it into a new game with straightforward betting and one bonus round feature that delivers multiple wins.

Gonzo’s Treasure Map Live was released on July 12, 2023. The game’s RTP is 95.26%, compared to 96.56% for the original game.

It’s a game that’s simpler and easier to understand than its predecessor, but it’s still no more than a game you try once and forget about.

That being said, do try it out, if only to see the Gonzo character. I have a hunch we’ll be seeing more computer (AI?) characters in casino games, so if you want to see what it looks like, Gonzo is your only option at the moment.

9 Pots of Gold StreamIcon Edition (On Air Entertainment)

9 Pots of Gold StreamIcon Edition by On Air Entertainment was released on the 30th of August 2022 to mark the debut of the streaming platform.

It is a community-spins human presenter game that extends the hugely popular 9 Pots of Gold slot.

The original slot game was a Gameburger Studios game released by Microgaming and is probably the most popular game you’ve ever heard of. It exists in Megaways, Hyperspins, and, crucially, King Millions formats, with the latter allowing up to a €30m progressive jackpot to be won. The jackpot version is responsible for the game’s popularity worldwide. There’s also a Roulette game.

This live game doesn’t have a progressive jackpot, the maximum win is 2,000x your bet. What a wasted chance to be the first to launch a progressive jackpot live slot!

This implementation of a live slot looks the best to me compared to the other available options today. The human presenter spins the reels by pressing a physical button, which makes all the difference. This game is fun to play.

The game’s RTP is identical to the original, 96.24%, which is excellent. The maximum win is 720,000 coins. The minimum bet is 0.20, while the maximum is £€$60 per spin.

There is no doubt that we’ll see more StreamIcon live slots soon.

Extra Chilli Epic Spins Live (Evolution)

Extra Chilli Epic Spins Live emerged from Evolution’s ownership of Big Time Gaming, and it’s a live slot with community spins and a human presenter.

The game was released on 20th of April 2023 and it’s yet another example of a concept that doesn’t work very well.

While the BTG Extra Chilli Slot is an excellent game, the additional concept of the bonus rounds with the presenter doesn’t deliver the same playing experience. While the bonus rounds add some excitement, they are not the reason to play this game.

Unfortunately, it’s not a game for me, but try it out; it may be a game you enjoy.

Big Bad Wolf Live (Playtech x Quickspin)

Big Bad Wolf Live was the second Playtech release of a live slot in August 2023.

Playtech is the platform for Quickspin Live’s first venture into this niche as they adapted their 2013 slot game.

Since it adds a Multiplier Game and a Wheel Game to complement the slot reels, Big Bad Wolf Live is an interesting game that might be worth your time.

Everybodys Jackpot (Playtech)

Playtechs Everybody’s Jackpot elevates their top-rated slot into a community slot.

What’s different about this game is the multiple bonus rounds and the daily Jackpot, where one player can win the top prize.

This game is almost like a game show, with the 5×5 slot taking centre stage in a studio designed to make you feel like you’re on the Strip in Las Vegas.

Everybody’s Jackpot is one of Playtech’s more popular live slot games, and it’s well worth trying.

Balloon Race Live (Evolution)

Balloon Race is not a community slot, but you’re playing with loads of other people trying to qualify for the final Balloon Race, where the multiplier prizes live.

Each player has their own playing experience in this three-round game. The first round is where you qualify for the Balloon Race. In between, there is a Top-Up phase where you can add multipliers to the final totals.

There are options to reduce the time it takes to qualify by placing bigger bets that guarantee Scatters or Wilds every spin. You need three of either to qualify.

This game mechanic is the same as that used in Crazy Coin Flip and Crazy Pahinko, the former being a slot game and the latter not.

So, what is the best live slot?

Of the authentic live slots that use reels, Big Bad Wolf Live is the closest to being a good game. 9 Pots of Gold StreamIcon Edition is also a fun take.

Evolution live slots are top-notch in production value and presentation, but I can’t get immersed in Gonzo’s Treasure Map and Extra Chilli Epic Spins because I prefer real live games!

If you want to try live slots, pick one of the first two games I mentioned. You’ll find them all at Leo Vegas Casino, including the Evolution live slots.

LiveSpins lets you bet behind streamers.

In addition to these five slots, there is something called LiveSpins, a startup acquired by Evolution in early 2024, that lets you bet behind your favourite streamer who plays slots live. Essentially, any slot can be turned into a live slot this way.

As opposed to watching a YouTube video in which your favourite streamer wins big, you can now participate in the action as he plays the game live—and you can bet behind him. This means you’ll win together and lose together.

Currently, five game providers are included in the scheme: NetEnt, Playson, IGT, Yggdrasil, and Relax Gaming.

Live Slots Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are live slots?

A live slot is any game resembling a slot machine with a human presenter talking you through the action. This genre emerged in 2019.

How many live slots are there?

Currently, six games can be classified as live slots, with most featuring pure slots games with reels, while some have abandoned reels in favour of falling blocks.

Can you play live slots for free?

No. Since live slots are technically live dealer games, they don’t exist in a free-to-play format. The minimum bet to play a live slot is currently 0.10.